Kiwi could avoid lengthy sentence over drugs

Kiwi Leeza Ormsby is likely to escape a 12-year sentence
in a Bali prison after prosecutors at her trial on drugs
charges recommended a much shorter jail term, Australian media
has reported.

The 37-year-old faced a long stretch behind bars after being
found with a half-smoked cannabis joint in her handbag when
police raided a holiday villa in north Kuta in February.

Instead, prosecutors have recommended Ormsby be treated as an
addict in the eyes of the court, meaning she will be given
some leniency, news.com.au said.

She had earlier told the Denpasar District Court that she had
a history of drug abuse and rehabilitation attempts.

Prosecutor Luh Oka Ariani told the court Ormsby was guilty of
possessing drugs, and under narcotics law drug addicts should
be sentenced to 15-months jail for such a conviction.

Three judges will decide the fate of the New Zealander, who
was living in Sydney at the time of her arrest. She will be
sentenced next week.

Ormsby was charged after police found MDMA and hashish in a
drawer inside the villa, which she was about to unlock.

Ormsby had not been staying at the villa, but had been given
the key by Australian DJ Marco Mazzucco, who was also on
holiday in Bali. Mr Mazzucco had been given the keys by
Sydney musician Azaria Byrne, who had rented the villa for
three nights, but left early.